What To Know About the 52-1 District Court in Novi, MI

If you’re getting ready to stand in front of any one of the judges at the 52-1 District Court for a DUI in Novi or a surrounding community, you may be feeling some apprehension.

As you may already know, Oakland County law enforcement treats DUIs very seriously. The 52-1 District Court is known for giving strict sentencing and jail time. Even if you’re a first-time DUI offender.

That’s why it is important to have a DUI attorney in your corner who specializes in DUI cases to represent your interests and help you get the justice you deserve.

Navigating DUI Charges At 52-1 District Court in Novi

One of the biggest questions you probably have is about what kind of penalties you might face for a DUI charge.

If you’ve been charged with a DUI and it’s your first offense, you could receive fines of up to $500, up to 93 days in jail, and as many as 360 hours of community service. You may also face vehicle immobilization that could require the installation of an ignition interlock device during the probationary period. And, you will also have a misdemeanor on your criminal record.

Penalties increase with a second offense DUI. Three or more DUI offenses will most likely incur even harsher punishments, as well as a possible felony conviction.

The 52-1 District Court Judges

Having an attorney who’s familiar with judicial procedures is crucial. But it’ll help you, the defendant, to know a little about the judge you’ll soon be facing.  There are currently three highly accomplished judges in the 52-1 District Court. Below is a brief summary of each of these esteemed judges.

1. Honorable Robert Bondy

Judge Robert Bondy was elected District Court Judge in 2002 and upon successful re-elections, has continued to serve at 52-1 District in Novi since that time. Bondy assisted with the creation of the Minor in Possession/Consuming Alcohol Court/Program and is currently active in helping manage the 52-1 Sobriety Court and Drug Court Programs. He was rated outstanding (the highest rating given for judicial candidates) by the Oakland County Bar Association.

2. Honorable Travis Reeds

Elected District Judge in 2014, Judge Travis Reeds has lectured on various topics for the Oakland County Bar Association and is a former member of the Oakland County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. He currently serves on the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) Criminal Law Advisory Board. Named Michigan Super Lawyer In 2013 and 2014 and selected as one of the Top 100 National Trial Lawyers, he currently serves on the Court Rules and Criminal Forms Committees for the Michigan District Judges Association.

3. Honorable David Law

Judge David Law was appointed to the 52-1 District Court bench in February of 2015. He has vast experience working in public and private law sectors including serving as Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor (1998-2004) and Assistant Attorney General for the Michigan Department of the Attorney General (2009-2015). In addition to his legal background, Judge David Law was elected to two terms as a State Representative. 

What Is the Court Process?

Before there’s any trial in the 52-1 district court for your DUI charge, you’ll undergo a pretrial process to determine what sort of assistance you may need. Such assistance could be in the form of police reports, blood testing logs, and/or video recordings. This gives the court the chance to explore issues that may or may not be present with the evidence before the actual trial.  (Jose, please let me know if this step actually assists the defendant.  We want to get the wording right here).

During this time, charges against you will be laid out and your bond will be scheduled. In some cases, the bond won’t require any payment but is rather considered a personal bond. This simply means that you give your word that you’ll appear in all future court appearances. You typically will not be allowed to leave the state without permission from the state and you could be ordered to comply with conditions such as alcohol testing.

You can typically expect anywhere from two to four pretrials before your case is set for trial (unless you enter a guilty plea). Settling in the first pretrial can be considered risky, since your attorney will not have had proper time to obtain and review all of the evidence.

Court Location and Other Pertinent Information

The 52nd District Court, Division 1, is located at 48150 Grand River Ave in Novi (zip code is 48374). The court is at the crossroads of Grand River Avenue and Providence Parkway.

You can reach the court by phone at 248-305-6511, or on the internet at www.oakgov.com/courts/district-courts/52-1/.

Get the Best DUI Attorney Fighting for You

If you’re facing a drunk driving charge in Novi, you want an attorney who has experience working with the 52-1 District Court system.

Jose Fanego is that attorney.

So contact us today or call (248) 645-1400 to get the best representation from a professional who knows his way around the specific processes and procedures of this court. You’ll be glad you did.